Scope of Work

The National Livelihoods, Safeguards and Engagement Specialist (NLSES) (Yap and Chuuk) will work closely with the PPG team leader and other PPG consultants in the completion of the ProDoc/CEO Endorsement package. S/he will advise on livelihoods, safeguards and engagement issues, develop mandatory project Annexes related to application of social and environmental safeguards and support adherence of project development to UNDP’s SESP and specific requirements, as appropriate. The consultant will be a livelihoods expert with strong experience in safeguards at community level in the FSM. S/he will work in close coordination with his/her counterpart for Pohnpei and Kosrae, and both will report directly to the International SLM Specialist (and all other members of the PPG team).  

Under the overall coordination of the PPG team Leader, the consultant will participate in and support the entire PPG process, information gathering, field visits, project development and the preparation of the ProDoc/GEF CEO Endorsement Request package. The consultant will facilitate key stakeholder meetings, working closely with UNDP.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The consultant will prepare a detailed work plan, including inputs from the international SESP specialist to be signed-off by the PPG Team leader. And will work closely with the international specialist to:

1. Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): Prepare inputs and support the required analyses/studies, as agreed with the GEF PPG Team Leader, including:

1. Review the PIF, participate in the PPG inception and validation workshops, field visits and related meetings
2. Review the SESP pre-screening of the PIF and other risks laid out in the PIF, check for additional risks and support the detailed assessment of all project risks and design of mitigation measures through consultations with national and local stakeholders
3. Hold extensive and detailed culturally appropriate consultations in each demonstration landscape with communities and leaders to:
   • Assess/document the presence of Indigenous Peoples/ethnic minorities, women and vulnerable groups and their interests and cultural traditions, particularly with respect to traditional land tenure / management and cultural / archaeological features.
   • Assess all potential impacts of the project on rights and interests, lands, territories, resources, and traditional livelihoods and determine when FPIC applies in accordance with national contexts and preferences, based on global best practices
   • Assess level of understanding and capacity of national and state-level stakeholders to give consent and identify community preferences for FPIC and grievance processes.
   • Hold consultations at state and national levels to assess current challenges relating to capacity to uphold duties, rights and safeguards, including consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
   • Based on these assessments and sharing the results transparently, and if relevant, integrate relevant matters as needed including FPIC into project design and into a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan, SESP and Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). Obtain FPIC for proposed activities at each project demonstration landscape during the PPG if possible (if not FPIC must be obtained during inception).
4. Livelihoods: Conduct extensive consultations and information gathering to:
   • review and assess the socio-economic relations/context, use of natural resources, livelihoods status and income generation models, profitability (and baselines) of local communities in the demonstration landscapes;
   • co-develop options for accelerating new SLM-based businesses and resilient green livelihoods based on SLM with communities, using the framework, guidance and lessons learned of USAID’s Conservation Enterprise approach, as well as examples of good practices elsewhere in the FSM
   • Identify potential sites, livelihoods type, income potentials, product value chains and markets, activities and budget to support development of suggested livelihood models in each landscape.
   • Assess existing or potential financial incentive mechanisms to support communities for SLM (small grants, community funds, loans, PES etc), including opportunities to engage with and up-scale the Participant Guarantee Systems farmers groups program and replicating Pohnpei’s Agriculture revolving fund
5. Assess all project risks identified in the PIF (Project/SESP and Climate risks) – and design risk avoidance and mitigatory measures
6. Assess all necessary information for completion of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan, and Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)
7. Consult with communities on their Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) on land degradation/SLM and biodiversity mainstreaming in the demonstration landscapes, with inputs from other consultants.
8. Support the completion of any additional studies (in particular baselines for GEF core indicators and project targets) that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs as guided by the PPG Team Leader.

1. Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory Annexes as well as project specific annexes (Component B):

1. Provide a summary report of the above social and environmental risk assessments to support the International Safeguards Specialist to complete the SESP and other project risks and ESMF ensuring the project incorporates a human-rights based approach following national and international guidelines, including detailed development of management measures to avoid and mitigate risks
2. Obtain FPIC for relevant project activities (if not obtainable during PPG, FPIC must be obtained during inception) and design of a robust grievance redress mechanism co-designed with the communities, to be incorporated into the ProDoc
3. Advise the International Safeguards Specialist whether an Indigenous People’s Plan (IPP) is needed and, if so, contribute to preparing guidance for the production of that plan, ensuring mechanisms are identified and implemented to guarantee meaningful, effective and informed participation of indigenous peoples
4. Prepare a report and plan on Livelihoods and SLM. Summarise the baseline assessment and stakeholder consultations in the demonstration landscapes related to livelihoods, and identify  potentially viable SLM livelihoods and their related value chains taking into account ongoing reported consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and potential climate change impacts, define appropriate project interventions as per Component 3 (with indicative budget, timeframes, TORs, timelines and coordination arrangements with aligned initiatives) for livelihoods support, community engagement and gender mainstreaming. Prepare a project Livelihoods plan for finalisation in Year 1 of implementation. Recommend sustainable financing mechanisms for incentivising and supporting livelihoods that benefit SLM.
5. Draft the Stakeholder Engagement Plan and ensure it is socially inclusive and gender responsive, including a tabulated stakeholder analysis and comprehensive list of all those stakeholders who have been consulted
6. Support the International Safeguards Specialist to design a baseline framework for measuring Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) on land degradation, SLM and biodiversity mainstreaming among communities in the demonstration landscapes, with inputs from other consultants.
7. Prepare a summary report on the administrative, demographic, socio-economic (including community profile) and livelihoods situation in each demonstration landscape – for inclusion in the Demonstration Landscapes profile report.
8. Support design of the project results framework and activities, including baseline information on the GEF Core indicators, and ensure that livelihoods and safeguards are adequately incorporated.

1. Validation Workshop (Component C):

1. Contribute to the validation workshop; and
2. Support all necessary revisions that arise during the workshop, as appropriate.

Institutional Arrangement

• The assignment will be carried out under the close guidance of the Regional Technical Specialist – Ecosystem and Biodiversity, Asia Pacific based in the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub and the programme team (RSD Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader and Programme Analyst) at the UNDP Fiji Multi Country Office.
• The NLSES for Yap and Chuuk will work closely with the PPG team (the SLM and SESP specialists), the central FSM Government focal point and the respective 4 States focal points.
• The NLSES for Yap and Chuuk is expected to produce all of the above stated deliverables during and upon the successful completion of activities according to the agreed schedules.
• The NLSES for Yap and Chuuk is expected to provide his/her own computer.

Duration of the Work

• The NLSES for Yap and Chuuk consultancy is for 55 days (11 weeks) commencing no later than 24 June 2022 and completion no later than 30 April 2023. The consultancy may extend depending on the collective recommendations of the Fiji MCO and the RTA in BRH.
• The NLSES for Yap and Chuuk shall be engaged to undertake the consultancy working concurrently according to a planned schedule to be completed by the latest 30 April 2023.
• The NLSES for Yap and Chuuk is expected to propose a work plan and timelines to achieve the expected outputs

Duty Station

• The NLSES for Yap and Chuuk will be home based;
• The NLSES for Yap and Chuuk is expected to use her/his laptop computer, loaded with the appropriate computer software for the work required and;
• The NLSES for Yap and Chuuk will be required to report via Zoom (or a similar virtual platform) followed up with an email summarizing the update call, at least once a week with the Fiji MCO and RTA in BRH.